Law Office of Tara J. Mason, PLLC

Law Office of Tara J. Mason, PLLC Comprehensive Estate Planning and Probate Services for first responders and their familes

Understanding how debt is handled after death is an important part of comprehensive estate planning. Financial obligatio...
06/02/2026

Understanding how debt is handled after death is an important part of comprehensive estate planning. Financial obligations do not simply disappear. In some cases, debts are paid from the estate through the probate process before assets are distributed to beneficiaries. Swipe through to learn more.

If you have questions about how debt may affect your estate plan, contact me to discuss your options.

Once a child becomes a legal adult, parents no longer have automatic rights to make medical or financial decisions on th...
05/19/2026

Once a child becomes a legal adult, parents no longer have automatic rights to make medical or financial decisions on their behalf, even in an emergency. That is why it is so important to have the right legal documents in place. Swipe to learn more.

If your child needs help preparing or executing these documents, I can help. Give me a call today.

If you or a loved one has been scammed, it can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming. The good news is that there a...
05/15/2026

If you or a loved one has been scammed, it can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming. The good news is that there are dedicated resources to help you recover funds, protect your identity, and report fraud.

🔹 FTC Fraud Reporting - Report fraud and get personalized recovery steps at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

🔹 FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - Report internet-facilitated crimes at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

🔹 Identity Theft Recovery - Get a recovery plan at https://www.identitytheft.gov/, the U.S. government's official identity theft website

🔹 AARP Fraud Watch Network - Reach out for support and guidance at https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/

The best thing you can do if you believe that you’ve been scammed is to report the fraud immediately. And remember, you are not alone.

I hope that you find this information helpful. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need guidance within my area of expertise.

Scams are becoming more sophisticated, but there are clear red flags that can help you identify them quickly. Here is wh...
05/14/2026

Scams are becoming more sophisticated, but there are clear red flags that can help you identify them quickly. Here is what to watch for:

🔵 Sense of urgency - Scammers create pressure by instructing you to act before a deadline or implying something bad will happen if you don't act immediately.

🔵 Impersonation of trusted sources - Fraudsters pose as government officials, tech companies, or other trusted organizations to make their messages seem legitimate.

🔵 Too-good-to-be-true offers - Free money, significant discounts on products not on sale, or prizes requiring upfront fees are classic scam tactics.

🔵 Poor message construction - Look for email addresses with misspelled domains, spelling and grammatical errors in the body of the message, “Under Construction” or “Coming Soon” job link sites, and website error links in email signatures.

The best defense is to pause and verify the source. If you know the sender personally, reach out directly. If it is from an organization, contact them through their official website.

I hope you find these scam identification tips helpful. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions; I am here to leverage my expertise for your benefit.

With National Senior Fraud Awareness Day on May 15th, we wanted to reach out to go over several common scams making the ...
05/13/2026

With National Senior Fraud Awareness Day on May 15th, we wanted to reach out to go over several common scams making the rounds so you can quickly identify potential scam messages.

✅ Tech Support Scams - Fraudsters impersonate reputable tech support representatives and claim there is a problem with your device. They seek remote access or payment to "fix" issues that don't exist.

✅ Government or Medicare Impersonation - Scammers pose as representatives from Medicare, the Social Security Administration, or other agencies to collect personal information or payments. Real agencies do not solicit such data by unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.

✅ Family Imposter Scams - Criminals pretend to be a loved one in distress and pressure you to send money immediately.

✅ Sweepstakes, Lottery, and Prize Scams - You are told that you have won money but must pay fees to collect your "winnings."

✅ Romance or Investment Scams - Scammers build emotional trust online, then exploit it for financial gain.

I hope these tips are helpful as we all navigate an increasingly online world. As always, if you have questions or need guidance within my area of expertise, do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to help.

As we observe Older Americans Month, I want to share an important reminder: When updating or changing your will, it is c...
05/12/2026

As we observe Older Americans Month, I want to share an important reminder: When updating or changing your will, it is crucial to work with a dedicated estate planning attorney.

I can help you make sure your estate plan is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that your wishes are accurately reflected across all of your key documents.

If you have questions about a current plan, do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to help you.

May is Older Americans Month, and in honor of the month, I wanted to share a couple of key proactive steps you can take ...
05/06/2026

May is Older Americans Month, and in honor of the month, I wanted to share a couple of key proactive steps you can take to ensure your estate plan meets your needs and protects your family. Here are some key actions you can take today:

🔹 Organize important documents - Your estate plan is only effective if the right people can access it. Make sure documents like wills, trusts, insurance policies, account statements, property records, and beneficiary designations are easily accessible to trusted family members. Include written passwords and other important papers as well.

🔹 Inventory your assets - Take stock of your financial, physical, and digital property, and cross-reference it with your estate plan to ensure nothing has been left out. If you've recently acquired an asset you'd like to include, or notice something missing, let's discuss it.

🔹 Plan memorial or final arrangements - While difficult, this is a crucial step. Determine where you'll be laid to rest, document specific requests for final arrangements, and consider pre-paying for services. This helps ease the burden on loved ones and ensures your final wishes are respected.

Taking these steps can help bring you and your family clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. If you have questions about your estate plan, feel free to reach out. I am here to help.

May is Older Americans Month, and to honor the month, I wanted to take a moment to share a few key areas where my office...
05/04/2026

May is Older Americans Month, and to honor the month, I wanted to take a moment to share a few key areas where my office can help ensure your estate plan meets your needs as you and your family get older.

📋 Living trusts help ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes while potentially avoiding probate. Unlike a will, a trust can take effect during your lifetime and allow for seamless asset management if you become incapacitated.

📋 Powers of attorney authorize trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so yourself, preventing delays, confusion, or court intervention. You can designate different powers of attorney for different concerns — such as health care or financial matters.

📋 Advance health care directives allow you to outline medical treatment preferences and appoint a health care agent to advocate for those wishes if you become incapacitated. These documents work with a health care power of attorney, and it's crucial to ensure they align.

Having these documents in place brings clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. If you have questions about your estate plan or would like to discuss these documents, feel free to reach out.

While major assets often get the most attention, personal items like heirlooms, furniture, or jewelry can hold deep sent...
04/30/2026

While major assets often get the most attention, personal items like heirlooms, furniture, or jewelry can hold deep sentimental value and lead to conflict if not clearly addressed. Without a clear plan:

🔹Unclear distribution can create confusion between family members.
🔹Sentimental items may not end up with the right person.
🔹Small oversights run the risk of creating emotional rifts within your family.

It can be a good idea to use a personal property memorandum, also known as a separate writing memorandum, to clearly outline who should receive which items, while keeping your will easy to update.

If you have questions about your current estate plan or would like to schedule a review, do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you.

Estate planning is not just about what happens after you are gone; it also covers what happens if you cannot make decisi...
04/28/2026

Estate planning is not just about what happens after you are gone; it also covers what happens if you cannot make decisions for yourself.

Without valid, updated health care directives, your loved ones may face delays or legal complications, medical care could be postponed, and your wishes may not be followed accurately.

For this reason, it is important to review your health care directive regularly and ensure it includes a health care surrogate (also known as a medical power of attorney or health care proxy in other states) that complies with your state’s laws.

If you need help reviewing or updating your health care directive, give us a call. We are here to support you.

Address

Available By Appt. At 100 East New York Avenue Suite 103
Deland, FL
32724

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+13862641737

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